Electronic device including display and sensor

ABSTRACT

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a first housing surface that faces a first side, a second housing surface that faces a second side, and a side surface that surrounds at least a portion of a space between the first housing surface and the second housing surface, a display arranged within the housing and including a first display surface including a display screen exposed through the first housing surface and a second display surface that faces the second side, a structure arranged between the second display surface and the second housing surface including a contact surface, the structure including a through-opening, and a sensor, at least a portion of which is arranged within the opening and which is arranged to detect at least a portion of light received from the outside of the housing after passing through the first housing surface and the display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 16/284,312, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, which is a continuationapplication of prior application Ser. No. 15/234,781, filed on Aug. 11,2016 which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,261,549 on Apr. 16, 2019 andwas based on and claimed priority under 35 U.S.C § 119(a) of a Koreanpatent application number 10-2015-0114966, filed on Aug. 13, 2015, inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to an electronic deviceincluding a display and a sensor, in which the sensor is provided in thedisplay.

BACKGROUND

Service contents and terminals have been developed amazingly since theintroduction of portable terminals. The services that supported onlyvoice communications in the past have developed to Internet andbroadcasting services including services, such as transmission of shorttext messages and photos, camera functions and Moving Picture ExpertsGroup phase 1 or phase 2 (MPEG-1 or MPEG-2) audio layer-3 (MP3)functions have been added to the simple voice communication functions,and the screens of the terminals also have developed from black andwhite screens to high-quality liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. Thecommunication services also have become multifunctional so that morethan six services are currently used as compared with two or threeservices of the past in one band. Currently, display devices havingtouch functions on almost the entire front surface of the terminal havebeen implemented by bar type terminals. As the size of the displaydevices gradually gets larger, current consumption is also graduallyincreasing, and the terminal manufacturers are competing to reduce powerconsumption. As a measure for reducing current consumption, thebrightness of a display device or a keypad assembly is automaticallyadjusted according to an illumination intensity of an externalenvironment, by installing an illumination intensity sensor around afront panel. That is, the display screen becomes brighter in a brightenvironment, and becomes darker in a dark place so that a power sourcemay be efficiently used.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentdisclosure is to provide the illumination intensity sensor is installedwithin a terminal, and may be mounted on a front panel, for example, aperiphery of the display device, and in detail, at a predeterminedlocation of an upper side of the front panel. The light receiving partof the illumination intensity sensor is implemented by a transparentwindow so that the brightness of peripheral light may be measured and acorresponding application may be performed according to the measuredillumination intensity value.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide the illuminationintensity sensor may be mounted at a predetermined location of theperiphery of the front panel to receive peripheral light.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide the illuminationintensity sensor may be mounted at a peripheral circumference of thedisplay device, for example, in a non-active area (NAA) (for example, ashield area) around an active area in which a screen is displayed, andaccordingly, the design of the electronic device may be restricted andit may be necessary to consider a location of the illumination intensitysensor when the components of the electronic device are designed. Forexample, in general, as the illumination intensity sensor is mountedadjacent to a speaker or a front camera and a front light-emitting diode(LED), the mounting locations of the components should be considered,and the design may be restricted by interference with other components.As a front transparent window is arranged in the illumination intensitysensor to receive external light, an aesthetic feeling in design may behindered because an unshielded part is generated in the entire shieldarea.

In addition, in recent electronic devices, the size of the shield areahas become very narrow by reducing the shield area or mounting theshield area inside the housing, and the mounting space of theillumination intensity sensor cannot be sufficiently secured becausewearable electronic devices such as watch type electronic devices have avery narrow shield area.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronicdevice in which an illumination intensity sensor that is mounted at anouter periphery of an active area of a display unit according to therelated art may be mounted in an active area of a display unit.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an electronicdevice is provided. The electronic device includes a housing comprisinga first housing surface that faces a first side, a second housingsurface that faces a second side opposite to the first side, and a sidesurface that surrounds at least a portion of a space between the firstsurface and the second surface, a display unit arranged within thehousing and including a first display surface including a display screenexposed through the first housing surface and a second display surfacethat faces the second side, a structure arranged between the seconddisplay surface and the second housing surface and including a contactsurface at a corresponding part of the second display surface, thestructure including a through-opening which is viewed as an opening whenviewed from an upper side of the first housing surface, and a sensor, atleast a portion of which is arranged within the opening and which isarranged to detect at least a portion of light received from the outsideof the housing after passing through the first housing surface and thedisplay unit.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device in a network environmentaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a program module according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an electronic device accordingto various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an electrical coupling state according toan embodiment of the present disclosure in addition to a stack state ofan electronic device according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating a stack state of an electronicdevice according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure in anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure and an electrical coupling state according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view of a lower panel to which anillumination intensity sensor member is mounted and a first circuitboard according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, in anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first circuit board to which an illuminationintensity sensor member is mounted according to a first embodiment ofthe present disclosure, in an electronic device according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views illustrating separated states of a firstcircuit board to which an illumination intensity sensor member ismounted according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, in anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an electrical coupling state according toan embodiment of the present disclosure in addition to a stack state ofan electronic device according to a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure in an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a stack state of an electronic deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure and anelectrical coupling state according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure in an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a partially sectional view of a lower panel to which anillumination intensity sensor member is mounted and a first circuitboard according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, in anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic views illustrating a driving process ofan illumination intensity sensor member, in an electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of variousembodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the various embodiments describedherein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thepresent disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functionsand constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

In the present disclosure, the expression “have”, “may have”, “include”or “may include” refers to existence of a corresponding feature (e.g.,numerical value, function, operation, or components such as elements),and does not exclude existence of additional features.

In the present disclosure, the expression “A or B”, “at least one of Aor/and B”, or “one or more of A or/and B” may include all possiblecombinations of the items listed. For example, the expression “A or B”,“at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A or B” may include (1)at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) both at least one A and atleast one B.

The expression “a first”, “a second”, “the first”, or “the second” usedin various embodiments of the present disclosure may modify variouscomponents regardless of the order and/or the importance but does notlimit the corresponding components. For example, a first user device anda second user device indicate different user devices although both ofthem are user devices. For example, a first element may be termed asecond element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a firstelement without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that when an element (e.g., first element) isreferred to as being (operatively or communicatively) “connected,” or“coupled,” to another element (e.g., second element), it may be directlyconnected or coupled directly to the other element or any other element(e.g., third element) may be interposer between them. In contrast, itmay be understood that when an element (e.g., first element) is referredto as being “directly connected,” or “directly coupled” to anotherelement (second element), there are no element (e.g., third element)interposed between them.

As used herein, the expression “configured to” may be interchangeablyused with the expression “suitable for”, “having the capability to”,“designed to”, “adapted to”, “made to”, or “capable of”. The term“configured to” may not necessarily imply “specifically designed to” inhardware. Alternatively, in some situations, the expression “deviceconfigured to” may mean that the device, together with other devices orcomponents, “is able to”. For example, the phrase “processor adapted (orconfigured) to perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor(e.g., embedded processor) only for performing the correspondingoperations or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., central processing unit(CPU) or application processor (AP)) that may perform the correspondingoperations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memorydevice.

The terms used herein are merely for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of otherembodiments. As used herein, singular forms may include plural forms aswell unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless definedotherwise, all terms used herein, including technical and scientificterms, have the same meaning as those commonly understood by a personskilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Such termsas those defined in a generally used dictionary may be interpreted tohave the meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant fieldof art, and are not to be interpreted to have ideal or excessivelyformal meanings unless clearly defined in the present disclosure. Insome cases, even the term defined in the present disclosure should notbe interpreted to exclude various embodiments of the present disclosure.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure may include at least one of, for example, a smart phone, atablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, anelectronic book reader (e-book reader), a desktop PC, a laptop PC, anetbook computer, a workstation, a server, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a Moving Picture ExpertsGroup phase 1 or phase 2 (MPEG-1 or MPEG-2) audio layer-3 (MP3) player,a mobile medical device, a camera, and a wearable device. According tovarious embodiments, the wearable device may include at least one of anaccessory type (e.g., a watch, a ring, a bracelet, an anklet, anecklace, a glasses, a contact lens, or a head-mounted device (HMD)), afabric or clothing integrated type (e.g., an electronic clothing), abody-mounted type (e.g., a skin pad, or tattoo), and a bio-implantabletype (e.g., an implantable circuit).

According to some embodiments, the electronic device may be a homeappliance. The home appliance may include at least one of, for example,a television (TV), a digital video disc (DVD) player, an audio, arefrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwaveoven, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, a homeautomation control panel, a security control panel, a TV box (e.g.,Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), a game console (e.g.,Xbox™ and PlayStation™), an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, acamcorder, and an electronic photo frame.

According to another embodiment, the electronic device may include atleast one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medicalmeasuring devices (a blood glucose monitoring device, a heart ratemonitoring device, a blood pressure measuring device, a body temperaturemeasuring device, and the like), a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT) machine,and an ultrasonic machine), a navigation device, a global positioningsystem (GPS) receiver, an event data recorder (EDR), a flight datarecorder (FDR), a Vehicle Infotainment Devices, an electronic devicesfor a ship (e.g., a navigation device for a ship, and a gyro-compass),avionics, security devices, an automotive head unit, a robot for home orindustry, an automatic teller's machine (ATM) in banks, point of sales(POS) in a shop, or internet device of things (e.g., a light bulb,various sensors, electric or gas meter, a sprinkler device, a firealarm, a thermostat, a streetlamp, a toaster, sporting goods, a hotwater tank, a heater, a boiler, and the like).

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, theelectronic device may include at least one of a part of furniture or abuilding/structure, an electronic board, an electronic signaturereceiving device, a projector, and various kinds of measuringinstruments (e.g., a water meter, an electric meter, a gas meter, and aradio wave meter). The electronic device according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure may be a combination of one ormore of the aforementioned various devices. The electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be aflexible device. Further, the electronic device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to theaforementioned devices, and may include a new electronic deviceaccording to the development of technology.

An electronic device according to various embodiments will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. As used herein, the term“user” may indicate a person who uses an electronic device or a device(e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic device) that uses anelectronic device.

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device in a network environmentaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 1010 within a networkenvironment 1000, according to various embodiments, will be described.The electronic device 1010 may include a bus 1100, a processor 1200, amemory 1300, an input/output interface 1500, a display 1600, and acommunication interface 1700. In some embodiments, the electronic device1010 may omit at least one of the above elements or may further includeother elements.

The bus 1100 may include, for example, a circuit for connecting theelements 1200, 1300 and 1500 to 1700 and transferring communication(e.g., control messages and/or data) between the elements.

The processor 1200 may include one or more of a CPU, an AP, and acommunication processor (CP). The processor 1200, for example, may carryout operations or data processing relating to control and/orcommunication of at least one other element of the electronic device1010. The processor 1200 may be referred to as a controller, may includethe controller as a part thereof, or may constitute the controller.

The memory 1300 may include a volatile memory and/or a non-volatilememory. The memory 1300 may store, for example, instructions or datarelevant to at least one other element of the electronic device 1010.According to an embodiment, the memory 1300 may store software and/or aprogram 1400. The program 1400 may include, for example, a kernel 1410,middleware 1430, an application programming interface (API) 1450, and/orapplication programs (or “applications”) 1470. At least some of thekernel 1410, the middleware 1430, and the API 1450 may be referred to asan operating system (OS).

The kernel 1410 may control or manage system resources (e.g., the bus1100, the processor 1200, or the memory 1300) used for performing anoperation or function implemented by the other programs (e.g., themiddleware 1430, the API 1450, or the application programs 1470).Furthermore, the kernel 1410 may provide an interface through which themiddleware 1430, the API 1450, or the application programs 1470 mayaccess the individual elements of the electronic device 1010 to controlor manage the system resources.

The middleware 1430, for example, may function as an intermediary forallowing the API 1450 or the application programs 1470 to communicatewith the kernel 1410 to exchange data.

In addition, the middleware 1430 may process one or more task requestsreceived from the application programs 1470 according to prioritiesthereof. For example, the middleware 1430 may assign priorities forusing the system resources (e.g., the bus 1100, the processor 1200, thememory 1300, and the like) of the electronic device 1010, to at leastone of the application programs 1470. For example, the middleware 1430may perform scheduling or loading balancing on the one or more taskrequests by processing the one or more task requests according to thepriorities assigned thereto.

The API 1450 is an interface through which the applications 1470 controlfunctions provided from the kernel 1410 or the middleware 1430, and mayinclude, for example, at least one interface or function (e.g.,instruction) for file control, window control, image processing, or textcontrol.

The input/output interface 1500, for example, may function as aninterface that may transfer instructions or data input from a user oranother external device to the other element(s) of the electronic device1010. Also, the input/output interface 1500 may output, to the user oranother external device, commands or data received from the element(s)other than the input/output interface 150 within the electronic device1010.

Examples of the display 1600 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD),a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, amicroelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) display, and an electronic paperdisplay. For example, the display 1600 may display various pieces ofcontent (e.g., text, images, videos, icons, symbols, and the like) tothe user. The display 1600 may include a touch screen and receive, forexample, a touch, gesture, proximity, or hovering input using anelectronic pen or the user's body part.

The communication interface 1700, for example, may set communicationbetween the electronic device 1010 and an external device (e.g., a firstexternal electronic device 1020, a second external electronic device1040, or a server 1060). For example, the communication interface 1700may be connected to a network 1620 through wireless or wiredcommunication to communicate with the external device (e.g., the secondexternal electronic device 1040 or the server 1060). The communicationinterface 1700 may include a CP, and the CP may form one of a pluralityof modules constituting the communication interface 1700. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the CP may also be included in theprocessor 1200.

The wireless communication may use at least one of, for example, longterm evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-A), code division multipleaccess (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS), wireless broadband (WiBro), and globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), as a cellular communicationprotocol. In addition, the wireless communication may include, forexample, short range communication 1640. The short-range communication1640 may be performed by using at least one of, for example, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth (BT), near field communication (NFC), and global navigationsatellite system (GNSS). The GNSS may include at least one of, forexample, a GPS, a global navigation satellite system (Glonass), a Beidounavigation satellite system (hereinafter referred to as “Beidou”), and aEuropean global satellite-based navigation system (Galileo), accordingto a use area, a bandwidth, and the like. In the present disclosure, the“GPS” may be interchangeably used with the “GNSS”. The wiredcommunication may include at least one of, for example, a universalserial bus (USB), a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI),recommended standard 232 (RS-23200), and a plain old telephone service(POTS). The network 1620 may include at least one of a communicationnetwork such as a computer network (e.g., a local area network (LAN) ora wide area network (WAN)), the Internet, and a telephone network.

Each of the first and second external electronic devices 1020 and 1040may be of a type identical to or different from that of the electronicdevice 1010. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, theserver 1060 may include a group of one or more servers. According tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure, all or some of theoperations performed in the electronic device 1010 may be performed inanother electronic device or a plurality of electronic devices (e.g.,the first and second external electronic devices 1020 and 1040 or theserver 1060). According to an embodiment, when the electronic device1010 has to perform some functions or services automatically or inresponse to a request, the electronic device 1010 may make a request forperforming at least some functions relating thereto to another device(e.g., the first and second external electronic devices 1020 or 1040 orthe server 1060) instead of performing the functions or services byitself or in addition. The other electronic device (e.g., the first andsecond external electronic devices 1020 or 1040 or the server 1060) maycarry out the requested functions or the additional functions andtransfer the result to the electronic device 1010. The electronic device1010 may process the received result as it is or additionally to providethe requested functions or services. To achieve this, for example, cloudcomputing, distributed computing, or client-server computing technologymay be used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic apparatus 2010 may include the wholeor part of the electronic device 1010 illustrated in FIG. 1. Theelectronic device 2010 may include at least one processor (e.g., AP)2100, a communication module 2200, a memory 2300, a sensor module 2400,an input device 2500, and a display 2600 and may further include atleast one of a subscriber identification module (SIM) 2240, an interface2700, an audio module 2800, a camera module 2910, a power managementmodule 2950, a battery 2960, and indicator 2970, and a motor 2980.

The processor 2100 may control a plurality of hardware or softwarecomponents connected to the processor 2100 by driving an OS or anapplication program and perform processing of various pieces of data andcalculations. The processor 2100 may be implemented by, for example, asystem on chip (SoC). According to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the processor 2100 may further include a graphics processingunit (GPU) and/or an image signal processor. The processor 2100 mayinclude at least some (e.g., a cellular module 2210) of the elementsillustrated in FIG. 2. The processor 2100 may load, into a volatilememory, instructions or data received from at least one (e.g., anon-volatile memory) of the other elements and may process the loadedinstructions or data, and may store various data in a non-volatilememory.

The communication module 2200 may have a configuration equal or similarto that of the communication interface 1700 of FIG. 1. The communicationmodule 2200 may include, for example, the cellular module 2210, a Wi-Fimodule 2230, a BT module 2250, a GNSS module 2270 (e.g., a GPS module, aGlonass module, a Beidou module, or a Galileo module), an NFC module2280, and a radio frequency (RF) module 2290.

The cellular module 2210 may provide a voice call, image call, a textmessage service, or an Internet service through, for example, acommunication network. According to an embodiment, the cellular module2210 may distinguish between and authenticate electronic devices 2010within a communication network using a SIM (e.g., the SIM card 2240).According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cellularmodule 2210 may perform at least some of the functions that theprocessor 2100 may provide. According to an embodiment, the cellularmodule 2210 may include a CP.

Each of the Wi-Fi module 2230, the BT module 2250, the GNSS module 2270,and the NFC module 2280 may include, for example, a processor forprocessing data transmitted and received through the relevant module.According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least some(e.g., two or more) of the cellular module 2210, the Wi-Fi module 2230,the BT module 2250, the GNSS module 2270, and the NFC module 2280 may beincluded in one integrated chip (IC) or IC package.

The RF module 2290 may transmit/receive, for example, a communicationsignal (e.g., an RF signal). The RF module 2290 may include, forexample, a transceiver, a power amp module (PAM), a frequency filter, alow noise amplifier (LNA), or an antenna. According to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the cellularmodule 2210, the Wi-Fi module 2230, the BT module 2250, the GNSS module2270, and the NFC module 2280 may transmit and receive RF signalsthrough a separate RF module.

The SIM 2240 may include, for example, a card including a subscriberidentity module and/or an embedded SIM, and may contain uniqueidentification information (e.g., an integrated circuit card identifier(ICCID)) or subscriber information (e.g., an international mobilesubscriber identity (IMSI)).

The memory 2300 (e.g., the memory 1300) may include, for example, aninternal memory 2320 or an external memory 2340. The embedded memory2320 may include at least one of a volatile memory (e.g., a dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a synchronous dynamicRAM (SDRAM), and the like) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., a one timeprogrammable read only memory (OTPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), anerasable and programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable andprogrammable ROM (EEPROM), a mask ROM, a flash ROM, a flash memory(e.g., a NAND flash memory or a NOR flash memory), a hard disc drive, asolid state drive (SSD), and the like).

The external memory 2340 may further include a flash drive, for example,a compact flash (CF), a secure digital (SD), a micro-SD, a mini-SD, aneXtreme digital (xD), a memory stick, and the like. The external memory2340 may be functionally and/or physically connected to the electronicdevice 2010 through various interfaces.

The sensor module 2400 may measure a physical quantity or detect anoperation state of the electronic device 2010, and may convert themeasured or detected information into an electrical signal. The sensormodule 2400 may include, for example, at least one of a gesture sensor2400A, a gyro sensor 2400B, an atmospheric pressure sensor 2400C, amagnetic sensor 2400D, an acceleration sensor 2400E, a grip sensor2400F, a proximity sensor 2400G, a color sensor 2400H (e.g., a red,green, blue (RGB) sensor), a biometric sensor 2400I, atemperature/humidity sensor 2400J, a light sensor 2400K, and aultraviolet (UV) sensor 2400M. Additionally or alternatively, the sensormodule 2400 may include an E-nose sensor, an electromyography (EMG)sensor, an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG)sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an iris sensor, and/or a fingerprintsensor. The sensor module 2400 may further include a control circuit forcontrolling one or more sensors included therein. In some embodiments ofthe present disclosure, the electronic apparatus 2010 may furtherinclude a processor configured to control the sensor module 2400 as apart of or separately from the processor 2100, and may control thesensor module 2400 while the processor 2100 is in a sleep state.

The input device 2500 may include, for example, a touch panel 2520, a(digital) pen sensor 2540, a key 2560, or an ultrasonic input device2580. The touch panel 2520 may use at least one of, for example, acapacitive type, a resistive type, an infrared type, and an ultrasonictype. Also, the touch panel 2520 may further include a control circuit.The touch panel 2520 may further include a tactile layer and provide atactile reaction to the user.

The (digital) pen sensor 2540 may include, for example, a recognitionsheet which is a part of the touch panel or is separated from the touchpanel. The key 2560 may include, for example, a physical button, anoptical key or a keypad. The ultrasonic input device 2580 may detectultrasonic wavers generated by an input tool through a microphone (e.g.,a microphone 2880) and identify data corresponding to the detectedultrasonic waves.

The display 2600 (e.g., the display 1600) may include a panel 2620, ahologram device 2640, and/or a projector 2660. The panel 2620 mayinclude a configuration identical or similar to that of the display 1600illustrated in FIG. 1. The panel 2620 may be implemented to be, forexample, flexible, transparent, or wearable. The panel 2620 and thetouch panel 2520 may be implemented as one module. The hologram 2640 mayshow a three dimensional image in the air by using an interference oflight. The projector 2660 may display an image by projecting light ontoa screen. The screen may be located, for example, inside or outside theelectronic apparatus 2010. According to an embodiment, the display 2600may further include a control circuit for controlling the panel 2620,the hologram device 2640, or the projector 2660.

The interface 2700 may include, for example, HDMI 2720, a USB 2740, anoptical interface 2760, or a D-subminiature (D-sub) 2780. The interface2700 may be included in, for example, the communication interface 1700illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, the interface 2700may include, for example, a mobile high-definition link (MHL) interface,a SD card/multi-media card (MMC) interface, or an infrared dataassociation (IrDA) standard interface.

The audio module 2800 may bilaterally convert, for example, a sound andan electrical signal. At least some elements of the audio module 2800may be included in, for example, the input/output interface 1500illustrated in FIG. 1. The audio module 2800 may process soundinformation which is input or output through, for example, a speaker2820, a receiver 2840, earphones 2860, the microphone 2880 and the like.

The camera module 2910 is a device which may photograph a still imageand a dynamic image. According to an embodiment, the camera module 2910may include one or more image sensors (e.g., a front sensor or a backsensor), a lens, an image signal processor (ISP) or a flash (e.g., LEDor xenon lamp).

The power management module 2950 may manage, for example, power of theelectronic device 2010. According to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the power management module 2950 may include a powermanagement integrated circuit (PMIC), a charger IC, or a battery fuelgauge. The PMIC may use a wired and/or wireless charging method.Examples of the wireless charging method may include, for example, amagnetic resonance method, a magnetic induction method, anelectromagnetic method, and the like. Additional circuits (e.g., a coilloop, a resonance circuit, a rectifier, and the like) for wirelesscharging may be further included. The battery gauge may measure, forexample, a residual quantity of the battery 2960, and a voltage, acurrent, or a temperature during the charging. The battery 2960 mayinclude, for example, a rechargeable battery or a solar battery.

The indicator 2970 may display a particular state (e.g., a bootingstate, a message state, a charging state, and the like) of theelectronic device 2010 or a part (e.g., the processor 2100) of theelectronic device 1010. The motor 2980 may convert an electrical signalinto mechanical vibration, and may generate vibration, a haptic effect,and the like. Although not illustrated, the electronic apparatus 2010may include a processing unit (e.g., a GPU) for supporting a mobile TV.The processing unit for supporting mobile TV may, for example, processmedia data according to a certain standard such as digital multimediabroadcasting (DMB), digital video broadcasting (DVB), or media FLO™.

Each of the above-described component elements of hardware according tothe present disclosure may be configured with one or more components,and the names of the corresponding component elements may vary based onthe type of electronic device. The electronic device according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least oneof the aforementioned elements. Some elements may be omitted or otheradditional elements may be further included in the electronic device.Also, some of the hardware components according to various embodimentsmay be combined into one entity, which may perform functions identicalto those of the relevant components before the combination.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a program module according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, a program module 3100 (e.g., the program 1400) mayinclude an OS for controlling resources related to the electronic device(e.g., the electronic device 1010) and/or various applications (e.g.,the application programs 1470) executed in the operating system. The OSmay be, for example, Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, Tizen, Bada, andthe like.

The program module 3100 may include a kernel 3200, middleware 3330, anAPI 360, and/or an application 3700. At least some of the program module3100 may be preloaded on the electronic apparatus, or may be downloadedfrom an external electronic apparatus (e.g., the first or secondexternal electronic device 1020 or 1040, or the server 1060).

The kernel 3200 (e.g., the kernel 1410) may include, for example, asystem resource manager 3210 and/or a device driver 3230. The systemresource manager 3210 may perform the control, allocation, retrieval,and the like of system resources. According to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the system resource manager 3210 may include aprocess manager, a memory manager, a file system manager, and the like.The device driver 3230 may include, for example, a display driver, acamera driver, a BT driver, a shared memory driver, a USB driver, akeypad driver, a Wi-Fi driver, an audio driver, or an inter-processcommunication (IPC) driver.

The middleware 3330 may provide a function required by the applications3700 in common or provide various functions to the applications 3700through the API 3600 so that the applications 3700 may efficiently uselimited system resources within the electronic device.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the middleware3330 (e.g., the middleware 1430) may include at least one of a runtimelibrary 3350, an application manager 3410, a window manager 3420, amultimedia manager 3430, a resource manager 3440, a power manager 3450,a database manager 3460, a package manager 3470, a connectivity manager3480, a notification manager 3490, a location manager 3500, a graphicmanager 3510, and a security manager 3520.

The runtime library 3350 may include a library module that a compileruses in order to add a new function through a programming language whilethe applications 3700 are being executed. The runtime library 3350 mayperform input/output management, memory management, the functionalityfor an arithmetic function, and the like.

The application manager 3410 may manage, for example, the life cycle ofat least one of the applications 3700. The window manager 3420 maymanage graphical user interface (GUI) resources used for the screen. Themultimedia manager 3430 may determine a format required to reproducevarious media files, and may encode or decode a media file by using acoder/decoder (codec) appropriate for the relevant format. The resourcemanager 3440 may manage resources, such as a source code, a memory, astorage space, and the like of at least one of the applications 3700.

The power manager 3450 may operate together with a basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) to manage a battery or power and may provide powerinformation required for the operation of the electronic device. Thedatabase manager 3460 may generate, search for, and/or change a databaseto be used by at least one of the applications 3700. The package manager3470 may manage the installation or update of an application distributedin the form of a package file.

The connectivity manager 3480 may manage a wireless connection such as,for example, Wi-Fi or BT. The notification manager 3490 may display ornotify of an event, such as an arrival message, an appointment, aproximity notification, and the like, in such a manner as not to disturbthe user. The location manager 3500 may manage location information ofthe electronic apparatus. The graphic manager 3510 may manage a graphiceffect, which is to be provided to the user, or a user interface relatedto the graphic effect. The security manager 3520 may provide varioussecurity functions required for system security, user authentication,and the like.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when theelectronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic device 1010) has a telephonecall function, the middleware 3330 may further include a telephonymanager for managing a voice call function or a video call function ofthe electronic apparatus.

The middleware 3330 may include a middleware module that forms acombination of various functions of the above-described elements. Themiddleware 3330 may provide a module specialized for each type of OS inorder to provide a differentiated function. Also, the middleware 3330may dynamically delete some of the existing elements, or may add newelements.

The API 360 (e.g., the API 1450) is, for example, a set of APIprogramming functions, and may be provided with a differentconfiguration according to an OS. For example, in the case of Android oriOS, one API set may be provided for each platform. In the case ofTizen, two or more API sets may be provided for each platform.

The applications 3700 (e.g., the application programs 1470) may includeone or more applications capable of performing functions, such as, forexample, a home 3710, a dialer 3720, a short message service(SMS)/multimedia messaging service (MMS) 3730, an instant message (IM)3740, a browser 3750, a camera 3760, an alarm 3770, a contact 3780, avoice dialer 3790, an email 3800, a calendar 3810, a media player 3820,an album 3830, a clock 3840, a health care application (e.g., whichmeasures an exercise quantity, a blood sugar level, and the like), andproviding of environmental information (e.g., information on atmosphericpressure, humidity, temperature, and the like).

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the applications3700 may include an application (i.e., referred to as an “informationexchange application” for convenience of description) supportinginformation exchange between the electronic apparatus (e.g., theelectronic device 1010) and an external electronic apparatus (e.g., thefirst or second external electronic devices 1020 or 1040). Theapplication associated with information exchange may include, forexample, a notification relay application for forwarding specificinformation to an external electronic device, or a device managementapplication for managing an external electronic device.

For example, the notification relay application may include a functionof delivering, to the external electronic apparatus (e.g., the first orsecond external electronic device 1020 or 1040), notificationinformation generated by other applications (e.g., an SMS/MMSapplication, an email application, a health care application, anenvironmental information application, and the like) of the electronicapparatus 101. Further, the notification relay application may receivenotification information from, for example, an external electronicdevice and provide the received notification information to a user.

The device management application may manage (e.g., install, delete, orupdate), for example, a function for at least a part of the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 1040) communicating withthe electronic device (e.g., turning on/off the external electronicdevice itself (or some elements thereof) or adjusting brightness (orresolution) of a display), applications executed in the externalelectronic device, or services provided from the external electronicdevice (e.g., a telephone call service or a message service).

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the applications3700 may include applications (e.g., a health care application of amobile medical appliance and the like) designated according toattributes of the first and second external electronic devices 1020 or1040. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, theapplication 3700 may include an application received from the externalelectronic apparatus (e.g., the server 1060, or the first or secondexternal electronic device 1020 or 1040).

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application3700 may include a preloaded application or a third party applicationwhich may be downloaded from the server. Names of the elements of theprogram module 3100, according to the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure, may change depending on the type of OS.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, at leastsome of the program module 3100 may be implemented in software,firmware, hardware, or a combination of two or more thereof. At leastsome of the program module 3100 may be implemented (e.g., executed) by,for example, the processor (e.g., the processor 1410). At least some ofthe program module 3100 may include, for example, a module, a program, aroutine, a set of instructions, and/or a process for performing one ormore functions.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an electronic device accordingto various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the electronic device 100 according to the presentdisclosure may include a housing 110, a display unit 120 a, and astructure (hereinafter, referred to as “a lower panel 120 b”) includinga through-opening, and an illumination intensity sensor member 130.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the housing110 may include a first surface (ex. upper surface) that faces a firstside, a second surface (ex. bottom surface) that faces a second sideopposite to the first side, and a side surface that surrounds at least aportion of a space between the first surface and the second surface.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayunit 120 a is positioned on one surface of the housing 110, for example,the first surface, and various internal components may be mounted withinthe housing 110.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayunit 120 a is a unit arranged within the housing 110, and may include afirst surface (ex. upper surface) including a display screen exposedthrough the first surface of the housing 110 and a second surface (ex.bottom surface) that faces a second side. The display unit 120 a may bedivided into an active area AA in which a screen is displayed and anon-active area (NAA) provided around the active area AA. For example,the active area AA is an area in which a screen may be displayed througha display panel 126 a and an input and an output may be implemented bythe touch panel 123 a and the NAA is an area located around the activearea AA and in which signal lines or terminals of the touch panel 123 aor the display panel are arranged and also is an area that is shieldedby various colors or the housing 110 to restrain the signal lines or theterminals from being exposed to the outside.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, theillumination intensity sensor member 130 is arranged at a location ofthe display unit 120 a, for example, in the active area AA of thedisplay unit 120 a, and may be arranged in a through-opening formed inthe lower panel 120 b arranged on a lower surface (i.e., referred to asa second surface) of the display unit 120 a. The illumination intensitysensor 130 will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an electrical coupling state according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure in addition to a stack state ofan electronic device 100 according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in an electronic device 100 according to various embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating a stack state of an electronicdevice according to various embodiments of the present disclosure and anelectrical coupling state according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, because the stack structures of the display unit120 a are the same but electrical connection structures for connectingthe display unit 120 a, which will be described below, to a firstcircuit board 140 are different in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6A and 6B, adescription of the stack structure of the display unit 120 a will not berepeated and the different aspects thereof will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6B, the lower panel 120 b may be arrangedbetween the second surface of the display unit 120 a and a secondsurface of the housing 110, and a contact surface may be provided at thecorresponding portion of the second surface of the display unit 120 a.The lower panel 120 b may include a through-opening (i.e., referred toas ‘a first opening’ or ‘first and second openings’). Thethrough-opening, which is viewed as an opening when viewed from theupper side of the housing 110, may be formed such that the illuminationintensity sensor member 130 is arranged in the active area of thedisplay unit 120 a.

As mentioned above, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the display unit 120 a may be exposed through the firstsurface of the housing 110.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayunit 120 a may display a screen and implement an input. The display unit120 a according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may includea window panel 121 a, adhesive layers 122 a and 124 a such as opticallyclear adhesive films (i.e., referred to as ‘optically clear adhesivefilms’), a first conductive pattern (i.e., referred to as ‘a touch panel123 a’) that may implement an input according to an approach or acontact, an OLED layer including a polarization panel 125 a and adisplay panel 126 a, and first and second polymer layers 127 a and 128a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the windowpanel 121 a is installed on a front-most surface of the display unit 120a and may be formed of transparent glass to protect the display unit 120a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the touchpanel 123 a may be arranged between the OLED layer, which will bedescribed below, and the first surface of the display unit 120 a. Thetouch panel 123 a is a configured to implement an input according to acontact or an approach of the active area AA. According to variousembodiments of the present disclosure, the touch panel 123 a may beimplemented in various types such as a capacitive touch panel 123 a oran electromagnetically resonant touch panel 123 a, a resistive touchpanel 123 a, an infrared touch panel 123 a, an electronic magneticresonance (EMR) type touch panel 123 a and an acoustic wave type touchpanel 123 a, or through a combination thereof. The touch panel 123 a maybe arranged between an upper surface of the above-described display unit120 a, in detail, the window panel 121 a and the display panel 126 a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, theoptically clear adhesive films 122 a and 124 a may be provided to couplethe window panel 121 a and the touch panel 123 a, and the touch panel123 a and the polarization panel 125 a, which will be described below.The optically clear adhesive films 122 a and 124 a may be provided tocouple the touch panel 123 a and the polarization panel 125 a, whichwill be described below, and transmit electrical signals between thepolarization panel 125 a, and the second polymer layer 127 a such as apolyimide layer 127 a and the touch panel 123 a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstpolymer layer 128 a may form the second surface of the display unit 120a. The first polymer layer 128 a may be provided on a lower surface ofthe second polymer layer 127 a, and when the second polymer layer 127 ais thin, a transparent support polymer panel (polyethyleneterephthalate: PET) may be provided to support and reinforce the secondpolymer layer 127 a.

Accordingly to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondpolymer layer 127 a may be a polyimide film and is configured to supplyelectric power to the display panel 126 a, and may be electricallycoupled to a flexible printed circuit board (i.e., referred to as ‘afirst circuit board 140’), which will be described below, and may beconnected to a main circuit board mounted to the interior of the housing110.

The second polymer layer 127 a may further include a part 162 a, 162 bextending from a part arranged between the first polymer layer 128 a andthe first surface of the display unit 120 a and bent toward the secondside.

The part 162 a, 162 b according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be chip-on-film (COF) bent 162 a or Polylmide (PI) bent162 b according to a bending and connection structure thereof.

The OLED layers 125 a and 126 a may make contact with the second polymerlayer 127 a, and may be arranged between the second polymer layer 127 aand the first surface of the display unit 120 a. The OLED layers 125 aand 126 a may include a polarization panel 125 a and a display panel 126a. The polarization panel 125 a is stacked on a lower surface of theoptically clear adhesive film 124 a, and may be provided to increase thescreen quality of the display panel 126 a, which will be describedbelow, and to improve outdoor visibility.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the OLEDlayers have been exemplified as the layers for displaying a screen, butthe present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, variousmodifications and changes such as LCD layers or LED layers may be made.

In this way, in the display unit 120 a according to the presentdisclosure, the window panel 121 a, the optically clear adhesive film122 a, the touch panel 123 a, the optically clear adhesive film 124 a,the OLED layers 125 a and 126 a, the second polymer layer 127 a, and thefirst polymer layer 128 a may be sequentially stacked between the firstsurface and the second surface of the display unit 120 a.

The touch panel 123 a and a separate second conductive pattern may beprovided between the first polymer layer 128 a and the second polymerlayer 127 a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the lowerpanel 120 b is stacked on a the second surface of the display unit 120 ato support the display unit 120 a, and may be provided to prevent aninternal module and the like from being viewed through the display unit120 a. A first opening 125 b may be provided in the lower panel 120 bsuch that an illumination intensity sensor member 130 may be positionedat a predetermined location of the active area AA of the display unit120 a.

The lower panel 120 b may be a structure stacked on the second surfaceof the display unit 120 a, and may include various panels. The lowerpanel 120 b may include flexible layers 121 b and 122 b, and a NFCmodule.

The lower panel 120 b may have a first adhesive layer to make contactwith the second surface of the display unit 120 a.

The flexible layers 121 b and 122 b according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure may make contact with the first adhesive layer, andmay be arranged between the first adhesive layer and the second surfaceof the housing 110.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexiblelayers 121 b and 122 b may include an embossed panel 121 b and a spongepanel 122 b.

The embossed panel 121 b may be formed of an opaque material, and mayhave a dark color such that an internal structure cannot be viewedthrough the display unit 120 a. The embossed panel 121 b may function tosupport the second polymer layer 127 a together with the first polymerlayer 128 a mounted to support or reinforce the second polymer layer 127a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the spongepanel 122 b may be provided to alleviate and/or eliminate a pressingphenomenon or a coming out phenomenon due to foreign substances that mayoccur during an assembly process of the display unit 120 a.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the NFCmodule 123 b may be disposed between the flexible layers 121 b and 122 band a part of the first circuit board 140. The NFC module 123 b mayinclude a wireless communication module and a conductive panel. Thewireless communication circuit may perform wireless communication basedon an NFC protocol. The NFC module 123 b may be included when a NFC issupported through the front surface of the display unit 120 a. The NFCmodule may be formed of ferrite, and the near field communication moduleof ferrite may improve the performance of antennas, and may prevent thematerial of the NFC module from influencing an internal circuit duringcommunication and improve communication efficiency.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the NFCmodule 123 b may be arranged between the flexible layers 121 b and 122 band a part of the first circuit board 140, and an adhesive layer such asa double-sided tape may be located between the embossed panel 122 b orthe first circuit board 140 and the NFC module 123 b.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first circuitboard 140 may be arranged on a bottom surface of the lower panel 120 b.The first circuit board 140 may include a part arranged between theflexible layers 121 b and 122 b and the second surface of the housing110. The first circuit board 140 includes another part extending fromthe part and bent towards the second side, which may be connected to themain circuit board.

The display unit 120 a or the lower panel 120 b described above shouldbe electrically connected to the first circuit board 140. Accordingly,in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, two embodimentshaving different electrical connections may be described.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the display unit 120 a (e.g., the firstpolymer layer 127 a) and the first circuit board 140 may be electricallyconnected to each other through COF bending.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, 6B, the display unit 120 a(e.g., the first polymer layer 127 a) and the first circuit board 140may be electrically connected to each other through PI bending.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the lowerpanel 120 b may have a first opening 125 b such that the illuminationintensity sensor member 130 may be provided at a predetermined locationcorresponding to the active area AA.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, differentlyfrom the display unit 120 a, the lower panel 120 b may be formed of anopaque material to restrict internal components of the display unit 120a from being viewed. Accordingly, an illumination intensity sensor unitmay be arranged in the lower panel 120 b, and may have the first opening125 b such that external incident light may be introduced into theillumination intensity sensor unit 131. In detail, because the displayunit 120 a according to various embodiments of the present disclosure isformed of a transparent material to display a screen generated in thedisplay panel 126 a, external incident light may be introduced to thefirst polymer layer 128 a. The first opening 125 b is formed in thelower panel 120 b provided to prevent an internal structure form beingviewed so that the illumination intensity sensor unit 131, which will bedescribed below, may be mounted to correspond to the active area AA andexternal incident light may reach the illumination intensity sensor unit131.

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view of a lower panel to which anillumination intensity sensor member is mounted and a first circuitboard according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, in anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first circuit board to which an illuminationintensity sensor member is mounted according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, in an electronic device according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views of separated states of a first circuit boardto which another illumination intensity sensor member is mountedaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in an electronicdevice according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 9A and 9B, the first circuit board 140 is alsocalled a display circuit board, and may include a flexible circuitboard. The first circuit board 140 may be stacked on a bottom surface ofthe lower panel 120 b. One end of the first circuit board 140 may beelectrically connected to the display unit 120 a through COF bending orPI bending, and an opposite end of the first circuit board 140 mayfurther include another part extending from an end of the opposite endand being bent to be electrically connected to the main circuit boardprovided within the housing 110. The first circuit board 140 accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a second opening145 corresponding to the first opening 125 b and connected to the firstopening 125 b. As will be described below, if a support member (i.e.,referred to as ‘a second circuit board 132’), on which the illuminationintensity sensor member 130, for example, the illumination intensitysensor unit 131 is mounted, is mounted on a bottom surface of the firstcircuit board 140 to correspond to a location of the second opening 145,the illumination intensity sensor unit 131 may be provided to bepositioned in the second opening 145 and the first opening 125 bconnected to the second opening 145. The sizes of the first opening 125b and the second opening 145 may have a size corresponding to the angleof view of the illumination intensity sensor unit 131. The size of theopening according to the present disclosure, for example, a distancefrom a bottom surface on which the illumination intensity sensor unit131 to an upper side of the first opening may be about 0.2 mm or more.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a terminalunit 142 that may be electrically coupled to a connection terminal 131 bprovided in the illumination intensity sensor member 130, that is, thesecond circuit board 132, which will be described below, may be providedat a peripheral circumference of the second opening 145 of the firstcircuit board 140. The connection terminal 131 b and the terminal unit142 may be coupled to each other through a thermal fusion method (a hotbar method).

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, as mentionedabove, the illumination intensity sensor member 130 may be arranged at apredetermined location of the active area AA of the display unit 120 a,and accordingly, may be mounted at the locations of the first and secondopenings 125 b and 145 formed on the active area AA of the display unit120 a.

The illumination intensity sensor member 130 according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure may include a second circuit board132 and an illumination intensity sensor unit 131.

The second circuit board 132 is stacked on a bottom surface of the firstcircuit board 140, and may be provided to cover the second opening 145to correspond to a location of the second opening 145. The secondcircuit board 132 may be electrically connected to the first circuitboard 140 to transmit a signal of the illumination intensity sensor unit131 to the first circuit board 140. The illumination intensity sensorunit 131, which will be described below, and a coupling member 131 a anda connection terminal 131 b may be provided on one surface of the secondcircuit board 132.

The illumination intensity sensor unit 131 may be electrically mountedon an upper portion of the second circuit substrate 132, and if thesecond circuit board 132 is stacked to be engaged with the secondopening 145 of the first circuit board 140, the illumination intensitysensor unit 131 may be positioned inside the first and second openings.The illumination intensity sensor unit 131 may detect external incidentlight introduced through the first and second openings from the outsideof the display unit 120 a.

The coupling member 131 a may be provided at a peripheral location ofthe illumination intensity sensor unit 131 such that the second circuitboard 132 may be bonded to the first circuit board 140. The couplingmember 131 a may be a conductive double-sided tape, but also may be anon-conductive double-sided tape.

The connection terminal 131 b is provided at a location different from alocation of the coupling member 131 a around the illumination intensitysensor unit 131, and is provided at a location corresponding to theterminal unit 142 of the first circuit board 140 to be electricallyconnected to the terminal unit 142 of the first circuit board 140 if thesecond circuit board 132 is coupled to the first circuit board 140. Asmentioned above, the terminal unit 142 and the connection terminal 131 bmay be coupled to each other through thermal fusion.

It has been described as an example that the illumination intensitysensor member 130 according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure is mounted on the first circuit board 140 having the secondopening 145 to be connected to the first opening 125 b while theillumination intensity sensor unit 131 is mounted on the second circuitboard 132. Accordingly, the first circuit board 140 may additionallyincrease in strength as the second circuit board 132 is coupled to thefirst circuit board 140, and when the illumination intensity sensormember 130 is broken or damaged, the illumination intensity sensormember 130 may be easily replaced by separating only the second circuitboard 132 from a bottom surface of the first circuit board 140, so thatthe maintenance thereof may be easily realized.

In the electronic device 100 having the above-described structure, theillumination intensity sensor member 130 may be arranged at apredetermined location of the active area AA of the display unit 120 a,for example, a central portion of the active area AA (see FIG. 4).Although it has been described as an example that the illuminationintensity sensor member 130 according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure is mounted to be located at a central portion of theactive area AA, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and it maybe mounted at any location of the active area AA.

External incident light is introduced into the first and second openingsafter passing through the transparent window panel 121 a, the touchpanel 123 a, and the display panel 126 a, and may be introduced into theillumination intensity sensor unit 131 mounted to the inside of thefirst and second openings. The illumination intensity sensor unit 131mounted in the active area AA of the display unit 120 a may detect theintroduced incident light, and may adjust the brightness of the displayunit 120 a according to the brightness of the outside through thedetected value.

An electronic device 200 according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described.

In a description of the electronic device 200 according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure, the same configuration, structure,and operation described in the description of the electronic device 100will not be repeated. The electronic device 200 according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure is different from the electronicdevice 100 according to the prior embodiment of the present disclosurein the structure of the illumination intensity sensor member and themounting structure of the illumination intensity sensor member.

For example, although it has been described that the illuminationintensity sensor member 130 according to the prior embodiment isconfigured such that the illumination intensity sensor unit 131 ismounted to the second circuit board 131, which is separate from thefirst circuit board 140, to be electrically connected to the firstcircuit board 140, the illumination intensity sensor unit 230 accordingto the present embodiment of the present disclosure is different fromthe illumination intensity sensor member 130 because it is directlymounted on the circuit board 240, and accordingly, the structure due tothe illumination intensity sensor member 230 is different.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an electrical coupling state according toan embodiment of the present disclosure in addition to a stack state ofan electronic device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in the electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an electrical coupling state according toan embodiment of the present disclosure in addition to a stack state ofan electronic device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in the electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a partially sectional view of a lower panel on which anillumination intensity sensor member is mounted according to anembodiment of the present disclosure and a circuit board, in anelectronic device according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, an electronic device 200 according to theembodiment of the present disclosure may also include the housing 110, adisplay unit 220 a, and an illumination intensity sensor member 230, andthe configuration of the housing 110 and the configurations of a displayunit 220 a and a lower panel 220 b may not be repeated because they aresimilar to those of the prior embodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, the housing 110 may include a first surface (ex. uppersurface) that faces a first side, a second surface (ex. bottom surface)that faces a second side opposite to the first side, and a side surfacethat surrounds at least a portion of a space between the first surfaceand the second surface.

The display unit 220 a positioned on one surface of the housing 110, forexample, the first surface, and various internal components may bemounted within the housing 110.

The display unit 220 a according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be exposed through the first surface of the housing 110.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayunit 220 a may display a screen and implement an input. The display unit220 a according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may includea window panel 221 a, bonding layers 222 a and 224 a such as opticaltransparent mounting films (i.e., referred to as ‘optical transparentmounting films’), a second conductive pattern (i.e., referred to as ‘atouch panel 223 a’) that may implement an input according to an approachor a contact, an OLED layer including a polarization panel 225 a and adisplay panel 226 a, and first and second polymer layers 228 a and 227a.

The electronic device 200 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a display unit 220 a, a lower panel 220 b, and acircuit board 240. The configurations of the housing 210, the displaypanel 220 a, and the lower panel 220 b according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure are the same as those of the prior embodiment ofthe present disclosure, and accordingly, a description thereof will notbe repeated. Meanwhile, the circuit board 240 may be referred to as adisplay circuit board 240, and is similar to the first circuit board 140of the prior embodiment of the present disclosure but is different fromthe first circuit board 140 in an aspect of the presence of the secondopening. A detailed description thereof will be described below.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the stack states of thedisplay unit 220 a of FIGS. 10 and 11 are the same, but are different inthat an electrical connection structure for connecting the display unit220 a to the first circuit board 240 is achieved through COF bending 262a(see FIG. 10) or PI bending (see FIG. 11) 262 b, which has beendescribed above and will not be repeated.

The display unit 220 a may be provided to display a screen and implementan input. The display unit 220 a according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a window panel 221 a, a touch panel 223a, and a display panel 226 a, and a description thereof will not berepeated.

The lower unit 220 b may be stacked on a bottom surface of the displayunit 220 a, on which a plurality of panels are stacked, to support thedisplay unit 220 a. The lower panel 220 b may include an opening 225 bon which the illumination intensity sensor member 230, which will bedescribed below, may be positioned at a predetermined location of theactive area AA.

The lower panel 220 b according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be a structure stacked on the second surface of thedisplay unit 220 a, and may include various panels. The lower panel 220b may include flexible layers 221 b and 222 b, and a NFC module 223 b.The lower panel 220 b may have a first adhesive layer to make contactwith the second surface of the display unit 220 a.

The flexible layers 221 b and 222 b according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure may make contact with the first adhesive layer, andmay be arranged between the first adhesive layer and the second surfaceof the housing 210.

A detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

A opening 225 b may be formed in the lower panel 220 b, for example, thesecond lower panel 222 b at a predetermined location corresponding tothe active area AA, and the illumination intensity sensor member 230 maybe mounted on the lower panel 220 b.

Differently from the display unit 220 a, the lower panel 220 b accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed of an opaquematerial to restrict the internal components of the display unit 220 afrom being viewed from the outside. Accordingly, the illuminationintensity sensor member 230 according to the present disclosure may bearranged in the lower panel 220 b, and an opening 225 b may be providedsuch that external incident light may be introduced into theillumination intensity sensor member 230.

In detail, because the display unit 220 a according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure is formed of a transparentmaterial to display a screen generated in the display unit 220 a,external incident light may be introduced to the display unit 220 a andthe first polymer layer 228 a. The opening 225 b is formed in the lowerpanel 220 b provided to prevent an internal structure form being viewedso that the illumination intensity sensor member 230, which will bedescribed below, may be mounted to correspond to the active area AA andexternal incident light may reach the illumination intensity sensormember 230. The distance between a bottom surface of the display unit220 a, on which the illumination intensity sensor member 230 is mounted,and an upper side of the opening 225 b may be about 0.2 mm or more.

The circuit board 240 is also referred to as a display circuit board240, and may be stacked on a bottom surface of the lower panel 220 b.One end of the circuit board 240 may be electrically connected to thedisplay unit 220 a through COF bending or PI bending, and an oppositeend thereof may be electrically connected to the main circuit boardprovided within the housing 210.

The illumination intensity sensor member 230 may be mounted on thecircuit board 240 according to the embodiment of the present disclosureat a location where the illumination intensity sensor member 230 isconnected to the opening 225 b to correspond to the opening 225 b. Thesize of the opening 225 b may correspond to the size of the angle ofview of the illumination intensity sensor member 230.

The illumination intensity sensor member 130 according to the priorembodiment of the present disclosure includes an illumination intensitysensor unit 131 and a second circuit board 132 and the illuminationintensity sensor unit 131 is electrically connected to the first circuitboard 140 while being mounted on the second circuit board 132, but theillumination intensity sensor member 230 according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure includes only an illumination intensity sensorunit and the illumination intensity sensor unit may be directly mountedon the circuit board 240. Accordingly, although the circuit board 140has a second opening 145 connected to the first opening 125 b such thatthe illumination sensor unit is located in the opening 125 b accordingto the prior embodiment of the present disclosure, a separate secondopening is not formed in the circuit board 240 and an illuminationintensity sensor member 230 may be mounted at a location correspondingto the location of the opening 225 b according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

The illumination intensity sensor member 230 according to the embodimentof the present disclosure may be arranged at a predetermined location ofthe active area AA of the display unit 220 a on the circuit board 240,and accordingly, may be mounted at the location of the opening 225 bformed on the active area AA of the display unit 220 a. The illuminationintensity sensor member 230 may detect external incident lightintroduced through the first and second openings from the outside of thedisplay unit 220 a.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic views illustrating a driving process ofan illumination intensity sensor, in an electronic device according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, external incident light may be filteredthrough an illumination intensity sensor filter of the illuminationsensor unit. A photodiode of the illumination intensity sensor unit mayconvert filtering data into an electrical signal. The electrical signalof an analog level, which was varied by the photodiode, may be changedinto an electrical signal of a digital level through an analog digitalconverter (ADC) converting block.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when aninterference is generated by light of the display unit while perfectexternal incident light introduced into the illumination intensitysensor unit is acquired, data of the display unit, such as an amount ofincident light, may be switched off at a specific time and may besynchronized with a detection time of the illumination intensity sensorunit.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an amount ofactual external light may be detected through digital level data of theincident light varied through the illumination intensity sensor unit,and the brightness of the display unit may be automatically adjustedaccording to the detected value.

An illumination sensor member according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure is located in a lower panel on a rear surface of adisplay unit to be arranged in an active area of the display unit, inwhich case an error may be generated due to light emission of thedisplay unit in a low illumination intensity environment. Accordingly,signals may be transmitted from and received by a display driver IC(DDI), and when pixel information of the DDI may be analyzed, externalillumination intensity may be determined by subtracting error datagenerated when the display unit emits light through information receivedfrom the DDI (e.g., illumination intensity or color) from information ofincident light acquired from the illumination intensity sensor unit andthen may be transferred to the display unit. That is, an actualbrightness of the display may be calibrated by reflecting lightgenerated by the display of the electronic device.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, not only anillumination sensor but also an image sensor or a fingerprint sensor maybe disposed on a lower part of a rear surface of a display device, andan image corresponding to user's biometric information (e.g.,fingerprint) may be acquired through the image sensor or fingerprintsensor. Further, an image acquired through the image sensor orfingerprint sensor may enable a correction, which reflects data oflight-emitting of the display device, through information (e.g.,brightness, color, etc.) provided by a Display Driver IC (DDI).

Further, a watch type wearable electronic device is illustrated as anexample of an electronic device according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited tothe watch type wearable electronic device and may include an electronicdevice having a display device, such as a terminal device like a bartype portable terminal, the shape, structure, or configuration of whichcan be changed or modified as long as the electronic device includes adisplay and a sensor.

While the present disclosure has been shown and described with referenceto various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a housing; adisplay unit disposed in the housing, the display unit including anorganic light-emitting diode (OLED) layer; a lower panel disposed belowthe OLED layer and including a flexible layer, the flexible layerincluding a first opening formed therethrough; a circuit board disposedbelow the flexible layer, the circuit board including a second openingformed therethrough and at least partially aligned with the firstopening; and a sensor, when viewed in a direction from the display unit,disposed at least partially aligned with the first opening and thesecond opening such that the sensor is to detect a light received froman outside of the electronic device via the first opening and the secondopening.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the OLED layerincludes a polarization panel and a display panel that is disposed belowthe polarization panel and includes a plurality of OLED pixels.
 3. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible layer includes atleast one of an embossed panel or a sponge panel.
 4. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the flexible layer is opaque such that, whenviewed in the direction, a component below the flexible layer isinvisible via the display unit.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the display unit includes a polymer layer deposited below theOLED layer, the polymer layer including a first portion and a secondportion, the first portion being flexible and, when viewed in thedirection, extended out of a periphery of the OLED layer, and the secondportion being connected to the circuit board.
 6. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein, when viewed in the direction, a first area of thefirst opening has a first size and a second area of the second openinghas a second size such that an angle of view of the sensor is notobstructed.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensorincludes a sensing portion to detect the light, and a connecting portionto connect electrically with the circuit board, wherein the sensor isdisposed such that, when viewed in the direction, the sensing portion ispositioned within a periphery of the first opening and the secondopening.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor isdisposed such that, when viewed from another direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction, at least one portion of the sensor ispositioned higher than a bottom of the second opening.
 9. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the flexible layer is configured to protectthe display unit.
 10. The electronic device of claim 1, furthercomprising a connector mounted at a bending portion of the circuitboard, and the circuit board is electrically coupled with anothercircuit board via the connector.
 11. An electronic device comprising: afront cover forming at least part of a front surface of the electronicdevice; a rear cover forming at least part of a rear surface of theelectronic device; a display unit disposed between the front cover andthe rear cover, the display unit including an organic light-emittingdiode (OLED) layer; a lower panel disposed below the OLED layer, thelower panel including a flexible layer configured to protect the displayunit, and the flexible layer including a first opening formedtherethrough; and a sensor, when viewed in a direction from the frontcover to the rear cover, disposed at least partially aligned with thefirst opening such that the sensor is to detect a light received from anoutside of the electronic device via the first opening.
 12. Theelectronic device of claim 11, wherein the OLED layer includes apolarization panel and a display panel that is disposed below thepolarization panel and includes a plurality of OLED pixels.
 13. Theelectronic device of claim 11, wherein the flexible layer includes atleast one of an embossed panel or a sponge panel.
 14. The electronicdevice of claim 11, wherein the flexible layer is opaque such that, whenviewed in the direction, a component below the flexible layer isinvisible via the display unit.
 15. The electronic device of claim 11,wherein the sensor includes a sensing portion to detect the light, andis disposed such that, when viewed in the direction, the sensing portionis positioned within a periphery of the first opening and a secondopening.
 16. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising acircuit board disposed below the flexible layer, wherein the displayunit includes a polymer layer deposited below the OLED layer, andwherein the polymer layer includes a first portion and a second portion,the first portion being flexible and, when viewed in the direction,extended out of a periphery of the OLED layer, and the second portionbeing connected to the circuit board.
 17. The electronic device of claim16, wherein the circuit board includes a second opening formedtherethrough and at least partially aligned with the first opening, andwherein the sensor is further at least partially aligned with the secondopening such that an angle of view of the sensor is not obstructed. 18.The electronic device of claim 16, wherein a connector mounted at abending portion of the circuit board, and the circuit board iselectrically coupled with another circuit board via the connector. 19.The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the display unit comprises anactive area in which a screen is displayed and a non-active areasurrounding at least part of the active area.
 20. The electronic deviceof claim 19, wherein the first opening is configured such that thesensor is arranged in an active area of the display unit.